Lionel Messi - Argentina's World Cup 2014 icon unravelled

LIONEL MESSI - ARGENTINA

Lionel Messi is heading to the World Cup with Alejandro Sabella and the Argentina squad.

Here, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the four-time World Player of the Year.

VIDEO: Scroll down for Aguero and Messi worked hard during Argentina training

Stress to impress: Lionel Messi will be desperate to prove he can perform on the biggest stage at his third World Cup

Strike force: He and Sergio Aguero will be hoping to bang in the goals in Brazil

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REPORT: All that is absent from Messi’s CV is a World Cup win. Doing so would, undoubtedly, gift the Argentina captain the legendary status that only Diego Maradona knows of. He has the potential, that’s for sure. The 26-year-old finished La Liga with 28 goals, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo on 31. Messi, though, could have pipped his rival had he not been sidelined for two months over winter. In January, he eased himself back in, taking four games to look his dynamic self, before netting eight times in the next six matches. In the end, Barcelona couldn’t snatch the La Liga title from Atletico Madrid. Messi is his own greatest critic, and the best-paid player on the planet will look to challenge himself in Brazil.

GRADE: A+

IF HE WAS BRAZILIAN HE’D BE CALLED: Messinho

RATING FOR RIO: 9/10 – Messi’s legendary status awaits.

KEY STAT: Messi has just one goal in two World Cups and is yet to come close to winning silverware with his country, but the best-paid player in the world has the ability to turn that around.

Argies: Messi training with his national team-mates in Buenos Aires ahead of their trip to Brazil

Advisor: Messi listens to his coach Alejandro Sabella during a training session